Olive oil can promote fullness

Olive oil contains an acid that could be used to fight obesity Scientists and nutritionists have long touted the cardiovascular benefits of olive oil, which is a primary component of the Mediterranean Diet.

Now, a new study suggests that oleic acid, found in this type of oil, may also help people feel fuller for longer – providing hope for new weight-loss treatments.

A team at the University of California-Irvine conducted a study in which they infused oleic acid into the intestines of mice and monitored the results.

The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, describe how the compound is converted into a lipid hormone known as OEA – a sort of messenger to the brain which signals fullness.

This suggests that oleic acid could potentially be used – in a nutritional supplement or in another form – as a health resource to help control appetite.

"Nutritional and pharmacological strategies aimed at magnifying this lipid-sensing mechanism, such as inhibitors of OEA degradation, might be useful in the treatment of obesity and other eating disorders," the researchers wrote.

Olive oil is considered a healthy cooking oil because it contains monounsaturated fat, which has been shown to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels.
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